Corselet



July 26, 1938. H. J. DUBNERI CORSELET Filed Sept. 14, 1957 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics Claims.

This invention relates to garments and has particular reference todevices of the type used by stout women for compressing the abdomen anddiaphragm.

.5 One object of the invention is to provide a garment of the characterdescribed wherein an inner belt for an outer restraining portion of thegarment is secured around the body at a much higher tension than that ofthe outer portion,

10 and the central part of the front section of the outer garmentportion being subjected by the belt to the much higher tension mentionedto shift excess flesh laterally so as to be retained by lower tensionlateral parts of the outer section .15 above and below the belt.

In respect to specific function, the belt portion of the garment servesto powerfully draw in the abdomen and diaphragm. This tends to form abulge or roundness at the front center of the belt 2 portion. Moreover,parts of the excess flesh escape from the belt portion, especiallyupwardly. Thus unevenness in body contour results. Yet the belt may notbe too wide up and down because undue discomfort would be caused. Evenwith my belt which covers only the abdomen and diaphragm, an elasticportion is highly desirable to allow for some variation as in standingup and sitting down.

Reference may be made to U. S. Patent No.

v 2,089,950 for Corselet, which-is owned by me, and

which patent will serve to illustrate further the type of garment towhich the present invention relates.

The main problem for success in a garment of '35 this character istoavoid the irregular body contour due to the bulge at the belt, andespecially due to bulges produced above the belt by the action of thebelt itself. Numerous attempts have been made by corset experts toobtain a 40 smooth uniform body contour without undue discomfort to thewearer, but have not been successful.

These difficulties I have solved by improvements in the garment, inwhich the belt portion is separately secured, as practically it must be,for the high tension desired. Further, in the garment to which myimprovements relate, the outer garment portion is preferably wholly orsubstantially inelastic and is accurately shaped to correctly fit thebody. In such a garment, I provide gusset-like means for interconnectingthe belt portion with the outer garment portion instead of directlyinterconnecting these portions. Preferably, the gusset-like meansincludes at 1155. least one elastic portion. Desirably, the elasticadjustable portion accommodativc to part of the belt portion is locatedat any point intermediate of the spaced gusset means. With thisprinciple, greater freedom of movement is permitted, and the beltportion tensions the gusset means and hence the intermediate part of the5 outer garment portion. This intermediate or front section of the outergarment portion may thus be at a considerably higher tension than theadjacent lateral parts of the outer garment portion, and is thus quiteflat so as to even out the 110 contour of the body. Also the tension ofthis section varies with that of the inner belt. And yet, because thissection is itself relatively nonelastic, its original body shaping fitis maintained.

The excess flesh that escapes the belt may 15 thus be comfortablyretained by the lateral parts of the outer section above and below thebelt. The central part of the outer section not only shifts the excessflesh, but aids the belt in its tension and produces the flattenedappearance Hence the outer garment portion or the front section thereofreferred to may be denoted the body flattening part, incontradistinction to the belt portion which may be denoted as the bodycompressing part. Further, it may be observed 25 that within the broadscope of the invention, any elastic element may be designated a yieldingor an adjusting means, so that the latter may include adjustable lacing,which, however, is less advantageous as it may require a change in ten-.30 sioning from time to time.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of agarment having an inner high tension belt and an outer flatteninggarment part whose front section is connected to the belt so as, 35 tobe subject to a higher tension than adjacent lateral parts of the outergarment part, above and below the belt, and with the tension on saidfront section being less than or equal to that of said belt.

Another object is to furnish such a garment wherein the outer garmentpart may assume a conformation different than that of the belt, toflatten bulges that may be caused by the belt, with the outer garmentpart being tensioned by .45 the belt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment including anabdomen and diaphragm compressing high tension inner belt having an body50 changes, and an outer body-flattening, relatively non-stretchinglow-tension garment part whose front section is connected at'its ends tothe front part of the belt, one of the connections comprising anadjustable or elastic element extending between the belt and outergarment part for transmitting tension from the former to the latter.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a garment having an innerbelt according to an improved arrangement such as will tend to causeseparation of the breasts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment 0f thecharacter described having few and simple parts, and which is durable,reliable and efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an inside plan view of the garment laid out in openposition, with parts removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view but with the parts tensioned togenerally correspond to actual use.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view with parts removed of a modified form ofthe invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 5-5and 6-45 of Fig. 4.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merelyas showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in' detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a garment embodying theinvention. The same may include an outer or main garment part II, and aninner belt I2 therefor. The outer garment is adapted to completelyencircle the body of the wearer from the bust to the hips, includingthese parts. Hence it may comprise a back part I3 that is stiffened asby boning I4. To one end of the back part is connected the front partI5, the other ends being releasably interconnected along the edges I5,IT as by hooks, lacing, or the like.

The inner belt I2 is connected at one end at I8 to the outer garmentpart II adjacent to the junction between the front and back garmentparts. Its other end I9 may be releasably secured to the back part I3 asby means of an inner flap portion 28. The latter may be connected at 2Ito the back I3, and its free edge 22 is connectible by hooks or the liketo the said edge I9. In up and down width, the inner belt I2 issufficient to cover the diaphragm and abdomen, and is consequentlysubstantially less in length than the outer garment part. For instance,the latter extends upward at 23 above the inner belt and may eveninclude a brassiere portion 24. Likewise, the outer garment part mayextend below the belt I2 so as to reliably embrace the hips. If desired,the belt I2 may have bottom extensions such as 25 to which garters maybe secured.

It is important to note that a primary characteristic of the outergarment part II is that it is cut, worked and shaped to accurately fitthe individual wearer when his body is tensioned by the inner belt I2.For this purpose suitable seams, elastic gores, shapes of edges as atI6, H are provided to furnish different capacities at different pointsof the garment for a form fitting action with the outer garment part I3being under tension. Elastic elements, wherever provided, as at 2B, 21,are distinctively hatched with horizontal lines. Fold parts as at 28, 29are indicative of slack that is provided for desired body fittingconformation. Other slack or elastic elements may be furnished in theouter garment part as may be necessary.

However, the front section I5 of the outer garment part, especially thegenerally central upright part 30 of the front section I5, is relativelyor wholly inelastic, since this part is subject, as hereinafterdescribed, to considerable tension and deformation, and must maintain aset position to flatten out or conceal bulges that may be caused by thehigh tension inner belt I2.

The inner belt I2 operates under high tension and hence is preferablyseparately attached around the body as at the edges I9, 22. Thereafterthe outer garment is secured at lesser tension at the edges IS, IT.

Due to the high tension of the inner belt I2, it preferably includes anelastic element 3I that may extend from the upper to the lower edgethereof. The material of this elastic element 3I has limitedstretchability, because its fabric is constructed with non-stretchingthreads which come into action when the elastic threads have beenstretched to a predetermined extent. The elastic element 3| permitsaccommodation to the wearer for standing and sitting positions, andother body changes.

The back part I3 of the outer garment part may be subject to the hightension of the inner belt I2, but this is immaterial, because there isrelatively little excess bulge producing flesh at the wearers back.

The invention provides means whereby the limited elasticity of the innerbelt I2, as above described, is utilized as a means for increasing thetension on the central upright part 30 of the front section I5 abovethat of the adjacent parts of said section I5. Thus one or more gussetelements 32, 33 may each be connected at one edge 34 to the inner belt,and at the opposite edge 35 to the front section I5. Preferably, thearrangement is such that the edges 35 are closer to each other than theedges 34. Thus these gussets 32, 33 are narrow, upright spaced stripswhich normally lie fiatwise between the inner belt and the section I5,but may also be referred to as converging toward each other from theinner belt toward the outer section I5. The lines of stitching at 35more clearly define therebetween the upright nonstretching centralsection 30 of the outer garment. Because of this nonstretching qualityof the section 30, it is transversely tensioned by the inner belt actingthrough elastic means, one or both of the gussets 32, 33 consisting ofelastic material. If desired, the gusset 33 may be omitted so that thetension acts between the gusset 32 and the stitching at I8.

By choosing material of desired elasticity for the gussets 32, 33, anydesired tautness may be produced in the part 30, in excess of thatcaused by the fastening at I9, 22. Hence the tension at 30 may be equalto butis preferably somewhat less than the tension of the inner belt l2.The latter may have boning as at 36 tending to straighten or flatten outany resulting bulge, and the part 30 serves to further produce theappearance of flatness and uniformity.

It is noted that the section 30 may have some slack therein as at 31,and the section l5 may have some slack as at 38 between the stitching l8and 34, in the nontensioned position of the garment. In lieu of slack,adjusting or elastic means may be provided.

It will now be seen that the invention is characterized by a frontgarment section 15, having lesser tension than the inner belt, andhaving a central higher tension region produced by the inner belt. Inother words, the regions of the front section l5, lateral to the centralsection 30 may have a lesser tension than the section 30. This may beefi'ected by providing a sufficient slack at 38, and by suitablyarranging the length of the garment between the edges l6, l1. Hence theexcess flesh which escapes the inner belt l2 upward and downward isforced laterally by the central section 30 toward the upper lateralregions at 39, 40 and the lower lateral regions at 4|, 42 with resultingflatness at the front.

In Figs. 4 to 6 is shown a garment 45 which is generally like thegarment [0, except that the inner belt |2a is formed with a centralupward extension 46 which is free of the outer section 45 except that itis connected at its upper end at 41 to the top of the section l5. Beingotherwise free of the latter, the section 46 aids in separating thebreasts. This result may be aided by securing a pad element or strip 48to the part 46 to lie between the latter and the front section I5, saidpad element being secured at 41 and 49 to bridge the space between thebody and the brassiere, the latter being held outward by the bust. Theelastic 31a is somewhat differently positioned, but this is immaterial.

I claim:

1. A garment including an outer or main garment portion and an innerbelt portion, the garment portion comprising a front section and a roarsection and being attachable around the wearers body so as to extendbetween and to cover the bust and the hips, the belt portion beingadapted to cover only the abdomen and diaphragm and extending along andbeing connected near its opposite ends to the said front section, thebelt portion having an elastic part and being attachable around the bodyunder high tension, the said connections including gusset like elementseach being connected at spaced points to the belt portion and frontsection, said elastic part being located between and cooperating withthe elements so that stretching of the elastic part causes said elementsto exert a stretching force on the adjacent central part of the frontsection, said elements operatively extending to the top edge of the beltportion, and at least one of said elements being elastic, the adjacentcentral part of the said front section being relatively nonstretchingand having an initial slack portion therein, whereby the said adjacentcentral part of the front section oompresses the body under a tensionless than that of the belt portion and forces excess flesh laterally tobe retained by lateral parts of said front section, which lateral partshave less tension than the adjacent central part.

I 2. A garment including an outer garment portion comprising a frontsection and a rear section and having means for attachment thereofaround the wearers body so as to extend between and over the bust andhips, an inner belt adapted to cover only the diaphragm and abdomen,said belt comprising a front portion connected at one end at thejunction between the front and rear sections of the outer garmentportion, said belt front portion extending along said front section andbeing yieldably connected thereto along spaced upright linesspaced fromthe first mentioned connection so as to define a central portion of saidfront section, said belt front portion having an upright take-up elementintermediate of the spaced yielding connections, said belt having meansfor attaching the same under high tension along the wearers bodyindependently of the attaching means of the outer garment, said yieldingconnections including at least one gussetlike element interconnectingthe belt and outer garment and lying therebetween so that tension on thebelt causes stretching of said element and consquent tautness of thesaid central part of said front garment section, the said central partbeing relatively nonyielding so as to tautly press upon the body abovethe belt at a lesser tension than that of the belt and to force excessflesh laterally under said outer garment above the belt, the saidcentral part of the front garment section having initial slack, and thefront garment section having initial slack intermediate of the firstmentioned connection and the second mentioned connections.

3. A garment for stout women including means comprising an outer garmentmember having a front section, and an inner belt member, said memberscoaoting with each other so that the belt member is secured around thebody separately of the outer garment member, the front part of the beltbeing connected along spaced upright lines to the front section up tothe upper edge of the belt, the garment member being shaped to tightlyfit the wearers body over the attached belt and the portion of thegarment member intermediate of and above the said lines of connectionbeing nonstretching, the belt member having a yielding portion betweensaid lines of connection and extending to the top edge of the beltmember, and at least one of the said connections including a strip ofelastic material connected at one edge to the belt member and at anopposite edge to the garment member and lying fiat between the membersto cause the belt to render taut the central part of the front section.

4. A garment including an outer fitted garment member, a yielding innerbelt member, the latter being secured around the body at a substantiallyhigher tension than the garment member, means connecting the belt memberto the front of the garment member along spaced upright lines, saidmeans including elastic gusset elements lying between the members andserving to hold taut the intermediate part of the garment member toreduce bulging at the belt.

5. A garment including an outer garment member tightly fitted to thebody under the tension of an inner belt, an inner belt having apredetermined limited elasticity, the inner belt being operativelysecured around the body at a substantially higher tension than thegarment member, the latter extending above the belt, meansinterconnecting the belt and the front of the garment member alongspaced upright lines, at least one of the connections including anelastic gusset element extending up to the top edge of the belt, saidelement being connected along opposite edges to the belt and garmentmember respectively and serving to hold taut the part of the garmentmember intermediate of the lines of connection to cause the excess fleshabove the belt to be pressed laterally under the garment member intoregions of lesser tension.

6. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the front of the garmentmember is nonstretching to maintain the form fit of the garment and tosubstantially increase the tautness above the said intermediate partthereof.

'7. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the garment member includesa brassire portion and the belt is provided with a top extension forminga bust separating member that extends to the top of the brassiereportion and is secured at said top, said extension being otherwise freeof the brassiere so as to drop in between the breasts and to permitfreedom of relative movement between the belt and the garment member.

8. A garment for stout women including means comprising an outer garmentmember shaped to fit the wearers body, and an inner belt member, saidmembers coacting with each other so that the belt member is securedaround the body separately of the outer garment member and at asubstantially higher tension than the latter, the front part of the beltmember being connected along spaced upright lines to the garment member,said means having a yielding portion located so as to permit relativeexpanding movement as between those parts of the outer garment memberand inner belt member which lie between said lines of connection,whereby the inner belt member serves to tension the front part of theouter garment member about the wearer.

9. A garment for stout women including means comprising an outer garmentmember shaped to fit the wearers body, and an inner belt member,

said members coacting with each other so that the belt member is securedaround the body separately of the outer garment member and at asubstantially higher tension than the latter, the front part of the beltmember being connected along spaced upright lines to the garment member,the garment member being shaped to tightly fit the wearers body over theattached belt, the belt member being constructed so as to be expandiblebetween said lines of connection, and at least one of the saidconnections including a strip of elastic material connected at one edgeto the belt member and at an opposite edge to the garment member andlying fiat between the members to cause the belt to render taut thefront part of the outer garment member.

10. A garment for stout women including means comprising an outergarment member shaped to fit the wearers body, and an inner belt member,said members coacting with each other so that the belt member is securedaround the body separately of the outer garment member and at asubstantially higher tension than the latter, the front part of the beltmember being connected along spaced upright lines to the garment member,the garment member being shaped to tightly fit the wearers body over theattached belt, the belt member being constructed so as to be expandiblebetween said lines of connection, and at least one of the saidconnections including a strip of elastic material connected at one edgeto the belt member and at an opposite edge to the garment member andlying flat between the members to cause the belt to render taut thefront part of the outer garment member, said garment member including abrassiere portion, said inner belt having a top extension forming a bustseparating member secured at its top to the brassiere portion and beingotherwise free of the latter.

HARRY JAY DUBNER.

